“Who called you to attend Mrs. Quintin?”
“A carter came and requested me to come with all speed to attend a lady in Cadieux street. I went as quickly as possible, but the child was born before my arrival.”
“Who, then, attended the lady?”
“The nurse did, and apparently very satisfactorily indeed. I found the bandages so well arranged, and the patient’s pulse so strong and regular, that I left, perfectly satisfied that all was properly attended to till your arrival. They explained to me that the lady was your patient, but that being unexpectedly taken ill, she had ordered the carter to bring the first doctor he found at home.”
“Was Mr. Quintin at home?”
“No; he is gone to England to purchase some goods.”
“Ah! That accounts for it then.”
“Accounts for what? Really you must not catechize me any further. What is there underneath all these questions?”
I drew my chair closer to him, as I said tragically:
“Mrs. Quintin never had a child.”